Chiefs Injury Update: Albert, Fasano, and Houston Are…

Dec 1, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tackle Branden Albert (76) is carted off the field after an injury during the second half of the game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Denver won 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid had his weekly “Red Friday” press conference this afternoon. One of the main topics of the presser was to discuss the status of the four players on the Chiefs injury report.

The prognosis for those players — at least against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday — isn’t good.

Most of us saw this coming. However, the other name that showed up on the injury report yesterday, gave everyone a little bit of worry.

As it turns out, McCluster practiced Wednesday and then reported an injury to his ankle to Chiefs head trainer, Rick Burkholder. This, according to Rick:

"We got him an MRI and an x-ray which showed he had no structural damage in his ankle. He did have a very small cut on the outside of his ankle that he had gotten in the Washington game, so we went into our protocol when somebody has an infection. He had a very minor procedure where [Chiefs’ Doctor Cris Barnthouse] opened up the wound, cleaned it out, got him on IV antibiotics and he was released today.”"

While McCluster was listed as “Did Not Practice” today, Reid hasn’t ruled him out of Sunday’s contest with the Raiders. It appears that the earlier signing of wide receiver Chad Hall was insurance in case the diminutive receiver can’t go on Sunday.

Apparently there’s a little known rule that the Chiefs must maintain one WR under 5’9″ on the roster at all times. That’s the only way to explain the move.

Regardless, I think keeping Houston, Albert and Fasano on the sideline is a good thing. While they are all important cogs in the machine that is the 2013 Chiefs, the team can function without them and the priority should be ensuring they’re healthy for the team’s playoff run.